Jamaica Ultimate Athlete Challenge set to deliver new multi-disciplinary sporting experience

KINGSTON, Jamaica—A new sporting event designed to test strength, speed, endurance, agility, and mental toughness is set to debut in Jamaica this November with the inaugural Jamaica Ultimate Athlete Challenge (JUAC). The one-day challenge is scheduled for November 21, 2026, at TruJuice Farms in St Catherine, as part of a four-day JUAC adventure aimed at boosting sports tourism in the country, as several athletes from around the world, including the United States, Asia and the Caribbean, have shown interest. Billed as one of Jamaica's most exciting new sporting adventures, the JUAC is the brainchild of Whycliffe "Dave" Cameron, president of the Jamaica Obstacle Sports Federation and former Cricket West Indies president, along with sports marketing specialist Carole Beckford.

Included on the team are Kerry-Ann Jones, managing director of TM Traders Limited, operators of Port of Call Duty Free at the Norman Manley International Airport; Michelle “Palo” McNally, a certified Ironman and marathoner; and Owen Hill, CEO of Professional Football Jamaica Ltd. This new adventure will test physical fitness, strategy and athletic ability in a challenging multi-disciplinary format designed to appeal to both individual competitors and corporate teams. Registration is ongoing and some early entrants include former West Indies cricketer Tino Best of Barbados and 27-year-old Honoka Jinzai, a Modern Pentathlon and Spartan Japanese race champion.

"We have several international obstacle racers who are coming to the event," Cameron explained. "This year marks our premier televised showcase featuring top international contenders travelling from Dubai and the UK," he noted. "With limited participant slots available for this staging, we encourage early sign-ups while registration remains open, as we lay the groundwork for an expanded showcase next year." Some of the other confirmed competitors are Savanna Salinas (USA), Kerrie-Kim Kirton (Trinidad and Tobago), Nicole Mericle (USA), Rose Wetzel (USA), Rose Vanhorne (Jamaica), Kevin Thompson (USA), James Matthew Ferguson (United Kingdom), Lisa Miller (United Kingdom) and Daniel Wallace (United Kingdom).

Participants will take on a dynamic 2K obstacle course featuring a series of demanding challenges designed to test different aspects of athletic performance. The inaugural event will feature challenges including running, crawling, pul…